WAND Vascular Introducer Gets FDA OK

Access Scientific out of San Diego, California wants to cannulate the central venous access market. The company just won FDA approval for its WAND™ MicroAccess Safety Introducer, a novel device that combines needle, guidewire, and the catheter into one system.

The MicroAccess WAND is the first of several planned WAND devices from Access Scientific to receive FDA clearance. The devices combine all components of the older, Modified Seldinger Technique into a unitary device that provides faster, safer, simpler over-wire vascular access.
The MicroAccess WAND is expected to be used primarily in interventional radiology suites and cardiac catheterization labs. Subsequent iterations — including the PICC WAND(TM) and Power WAND(TM) now in development – are designed to be used primarily by vascular nurse specialists for insertion of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and extended-dwell peripheral IVs.
The Seldinger technique was developed in 1953 to reduce complications associated with the introduction of catheters and other medical devices into blood vessels and hollow organs. Because there have been few significant improvements to the technique since it was invented, what is now known as the Modified Seldinger Technique (MST) still carries serious risks for patients and clinicians.
Among the patient risks of MST that are reduced by the Accelerated Seldinger Technique is air embolism. Beginning in October 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ceased reimbursing healthcare institutions for air embolism, which CMS considers preventable.
In addition to uniting the elements needed to perform the Seldinger technique into one unitary device, The WAND is designed to reduce the risk of accidental needlesticks, bleeding, contamination, guidewire embolism, and loss of cannulation. Its “Fast-flash” feature provides early detection of vessel entry.

Learn more by going to the product page: MicroAccess WAND …
Press release: Access Scientific Receives FDA Clearance for The WAND …